Ettrick Bay
ETTRICK BAY: Seasonal aerodrome
Note: All four of these maps and pictures were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder
Note: This rather poor and over-exposed picture, (courtesy of Mrs C. Poole), was scanned from the excellent book Cornwall Aviation Company by Ted Chapman, published in 1979.
The caption is: "F.E. Draycott, Cyril Poole and Jock Cameron overhauling an engine in the field. Mike Crocker is standing at the back and the other person could be a farmer as this picture was taken at Ettrick Bay, Rothesay, in 1927. The parts were being cleaned with caustic soda and some of the cylinder pots can be seen on the ground."
In October 2020 Mike Charlton sent me this picture from a postcard. Although the date is unknown could it have been taken in 1927? The aircraft, without much doubt is an Avro 504, probably a 504K or 504N. Note the RAF markings being rather crudely painted out. These examples were usually purchased from the Aircraft Disposal Company at CROYDON.
Operated by: Cornwall Aviation Company
Period of operation: 1927?
NOTES: I had wondered why ETTRICK BAY could be attractive for a joy-ride operation. It seemed too far away from Rothesay, and indeed posed the question. In October 2020, after getting the great aerial picture from Mike Charlton I then asked Mike Holder if he would mind adding a map or two. As you can see above, I got more than I could have wished for, and, Mike who bless him is a great friend of this 'Guide', also came up with the answer to my question.
It turns out that at the end of the 19th century Ettrick Bay was proving to be very popular with day trippers, but not a resort as such. In 1882 a horse-drawn tramway was constructed from Rothesay to Port Bannatyne on the east side of the island. This proved so popular that in 1905 it was replaced with an electric light railway and an extension added to Ettrick Bay. Presumably the bulk of the people visiting in those days would have been reasonably wealthy people from the central belt of Scotland.
And they of course would have been a magnet for joy-ride operators such as the Cornwall Aviation Company.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
